Antenna device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an antenna device capable of retaining by a simple structure an antenna base end portion  12  pivotably and, moreover, in a predetermined posture on an antenna base member  10 . The antenna base member  10  is provided therein coaxially with a cylindrical member  10   d  a part of a circumferential wall of which is cut off. The cylindrical member  10   d  is provided therein with a substantially annular elastic member  16 , which has an engagement projection  16   a  extending outward from the cutoff portion in the radial direction and capable of being elastically displaced in the radial direction, in such a manner that the elastic member is not relatively turned. The antenna base end portion  12  is provided with an engagement recess  12   a  engaged with an outer circumference of the cylindrical member  10   d , and the engagement projection  16   a  is elastically engaged with an inner circumferential surface of the engagement recess  12   a . The engagement recess  12   a  is provided in an inner circumferential surface thereof with retaining recesses  12   b   , 12   c  with which the engagement projection  16   a  is elastically engaged with an antenna in predetermined postures substantially horizontal and of a predetermined angle of inclination. The engagement recess  12   a  is fitted around an outer circumference of the cylindrical member  10   d , and the antenna base end portion  12  is provided pivotably on the antenna base member  10.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an antenna device formed so that an antennacan be moved pivotally on an antenna base member and, moreover, retainedin a predetermined posture.

BACKGROUND ART

In a related art example of an antenna device formed so that an antennacan be moved pivotally on an antenna base member and, moreover, retainedin a predetermined posture, a pivot is passed through each of a fixedclutch plate secured to the antenna base member and having recesses andprojections like those of a clip washer, and a movable clutch platesecured to a base end portion of the antenna and having recesses andprojections like those of a clip washer, and the movable clutch plate iselastically engaged with the fixed clutch by a compression coiled springloosely fitted around the pivot. Since the recesses and projections ofthe fixed clutch and movable clutch are meshed with one another, apredetermined posture of the antenna is retained. When the disengagingof the recesses and projections of the fixed clutch plate and those ofthe movable clutch plate from one another is done against an elasticforce of the compression coiled spring, the antenna can be turned.

However, in this related art antenna device, the number of parts of amechanism for retaining the antenna in a predetermined posture includingthe fixed clutch, movable clutch and compression coiled spring is large.This causes the construction of the related art antenna device to becomecomplicated, and the weight thereof to increase.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of suchcircumstances, and aims at providing an antenna device having a simpleconstruction of the mechanism for retaining the antenna in apredetermined posture.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The antenna device according to the present invention is an antennadevice in which an antenna base end portion is provided pivotably withrespect to an antenna base member with an antenna retained in apredetermined posture, one of the antenna base member and antenna baseend portion being provided with an elastic member having an engagementsection capable of being elastically displaced in the radial directionwith respect to an axis of a pivotal movement thereof so that theelastic member is not relatively turned, the other of the antenna basemember and antenna base end portion being provided with a slideengagement section with which the elastic member elastically deformed bya turning movement of the antenna is slidingly engaged, the slideengagement section being provided with a retaining part with which thementioned engagement section is engaged by the elastic force of theelastic member with the antenna in a predetermined posture. In thisstructure, the engagement section provided on one of the pivotablyprovided antenna base member and antenna base end portion engages theretaining part, which is provided on the other, by the elastic force ofthe elastic member to thereby enable the antenna to be retained in apredetermined posture. One elastic member can form a click mechanismsimply, so that the construction of the antenna device is very simple.

In the antenna device in which an antenna base end portion is providedpivotably with respect to an antenna base member with an antennaretained in a predetermined posture, the antenna base member beingprovided with an elastic member having an engagement projection whichextends radially with respect to an axis of a pivotal movement of theantenna, and which can be elastically deformed in the radial direction,in such a manner that the elastic member is not turned relatively, theantenna base end portion being provided with a slide engagement sectionwith which the engagement projection elastically deformed by a turningmovement of the antenna is slidingly engaged, the slide engagementsection being allowable to be provided with a retaining recess withwhich the engagement projection is engaged by an elastic force thereofwith the antenna in a predetermined posture. The engagement projectionof the elastic member provided on the antenna base member engages theretaining recess provided in the slide engagement section of the antennabase portion to thereby enable the antenna to be retained in apredetermined posture.

In the antenna device in which an antenna base end portion is providedpivotably with respect to an antenna base member with an antennaretained in a predetermined posture, the antenna base end portion beingprovided with an elastic member having an engagement projection whichextends radially with respect to an axis of a pivotal movement of theantenna, and which can be elastically deformed in the radial direction,in such a manner that the elastic member is not turned relatively, theantenna base member being provided with a slide engagement section withwhich the engagement projection elastically deformed by a turningmovement of the antenna is slidingly engaged, the slide engagementsection being allowable to be provided with a retaining recess withwhich the engagement projection is engaged by an elastic force thereofwith the antenna in a predetermined posture. The engagement projectionof the elastic member provided on the antenna base end portion engagesthe retaining recess provided in the slide engagement section of theantenna base member to thereby enable the antenna to be retained in apredetermined posture.

The antenna device can also be formed by further providing the antennabase member with a cylindrical member a part of an outer circumferentialsurface of which is cutoff, providing a substantially annular elasticmember, which has an engagement projection extending in the radialdirection of the cutoff portion, in the cylindrical member, providingthe antenna base end portion with an engagement recess engaged with theouter circumferential surface of the cylindrical member and therebyforming an inner circumferential surface thereof into the slideengagement section, and providing an inner circumferential surface ofthe engagement recess with a retaining recess with which the engagementprojection is engaged. This enables the antenna device to be formed byincorporating the whole of the click mechanism in the antenna base endportion.

The annular elastic member may be provided therein with urethane rubberin a compressed state so that the urethane rubber is elastically engagedwith a bottom surface of the engagement recess of the antenna base endportion. When the antenna is turned in this structure, a suitablepivotal resistance is obtained owing to a frictional resistance causedby the elastic engagement of the urethane rubber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of the antenna deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of what is shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an antenna base member, wherein FIG. 3(a) is a plan view,FIG. 3(b) a front view, and FIG. 3(c) a sectional view taken along thearrow-carrying line A-A in FIG. 3(b);

FIG. 4 shows an antenna base end portion, wherein FIG. 4(a) is a planview, FIG. 4(b) a sectional view taken along the arrow-carrying line B-Bin FIG. 4(a), and FIG. 4(c) a rear view;

FIG. 5 shows an elastic member, wherein FIG. 5(a) is a front view, andFIG. 5(b) a side view;

FIG. 6 is a partial front view showing the elastic member and urethanerubber combined with the antenna base member;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the antenna end portion viewed from theabove along the arrow-carrying line C-C in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway front view showing the condition of a partof the antenna retained in a predetermined posture;

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway front view showing the condition of a partof the antenna not retained in a predetermined posture but in a turningmovement;

FIG. 10 is a left side view of a second embodiment of the antenna deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the arrow-carrying line D-D inFIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the arrow-carrying line E-E inFIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a third embodiment of theantenna device according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fourth embodiment of theantenna device according to the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a partially cutaway view of a part of a fifth embodiment ofthe antenna device according to the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along the arrow-carrying line F-F inFIG. 15; and

FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway front view of a sixth embodiment of theantenna device according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 9. FIG. 1 is a front view of the firstembodiment of the antenna device according to the present invention.FIG. 2 is a left side view of what is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows anantenna base member, wherein FIG. 3(a) is a plan view, FIG. 3(b) a frontview, and FIG. 3(c) a sectional view taken along the arrow-carrying lineA-A in FIG. 3(b). FIG. 4 shows an antenna base end portion, wherein FIG.4(a) is a front view, FIG. 4(b) a sectional view taken along thearrow-carrying line B-B in FIG. 4(a), and FIG. 4(c) a rear view. FIG. 5shows an elastic member, wherein FIG. 5(a) is a front view, and FIG.5(b) a side view. FIG. 6 is a partial front view showing the elasticmember and urethane rubber combined with the antenna base portion. FIG.7 is a sectional view of the antenna base end portion viewed from theabove along the arrow-carrying line C-C in FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a partiallycutaway front view showing the condition of an antenna retained in apredetermined posture. FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway front view showingthe condition of the antenna not retained in a predetermined posture butin a turning movement. FIGS. 5 to 9 are drawn in a doubly magnifiedstate with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 9, an antenna base member 10 is provided with adownwardly directed fixing bolt 10 b on a base 10 a, and a standingportion 10 c on the upper side thereof, a cylindrical member 10 d a partof an outer circumferential surface of which is cut off being providedon this standing portion 10 c so that the axis of the cylindrical member10 d extends horizontally, a threaded hole 10 e being provided in thesection of the standing portion 10 c which corresponds to the axis ofthe cylindrical member 10 d. A reference numeral 10 f denotes a bossinserted into a hole, which is provided in a vehicle body, so as toprevent the antenna base member 10 from being rotated around the fixingbolt 10 b as a shaft. The antenna base end portion 12 is provided withan engagement recess 12 a engageable with an outer circumference of thecylindrical member 10 d, and an inner circumferential surface of theengagement recess 12 a with retaining recesses 12 b, 12 c, a bolt hole12 d being provided in an axial section of the antenna base end portion.The antenna base end portion 12 is provided with a base end portion of arod type antenna element 14 fixed thereto suitably. The cylindricalmember 10 d is provided with a cutoff portion at apart of an edgethereof, and a projection on an inner surface of the engagement recess12 a so as to be opposed to the cutoff portion.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cylindrical member 10 d of the antenna basemember 10 is provided therein with an elastic member 16 having anengagement projection 16 a which extends from the cutoff portion of thecylindrical member 10 d in the radial direction, and made of a partiallycut-off substantially annular plate spring. This elastic member 16 iselastically engaged with the inner circumferential surface of thecylindrical member 10 d. The elastic member 16 is provided on the innerside thereof with compressed urethane rubber 18. An outercircumferential surface of this urethane rubber 18 is engaged with theinner side of the elastic member 16, and a bolt hole is made in an axialportion of the urethane rubber.

The engagement recess 12 a of the antenna base end portion 12 is fittedaround the outer circumference of the cylindrical member 10 d of theantenna base member 10 with which the elastic member 16 and urethanerubber 18 are combined. A fixing bolt 20 is then screwed from the bolthole 12 d into the threaded hole 10 e to thereby combine as shown inFIG. 7 the antenna base end portion with the antenna base member 10 sothat the antenna base end portion does not separate therefrom. Thefixing bolt 20 thus fixed to the antenna base member 10 is primarilyused to prevent the separation of the antenna base end portion 12, andcan be relatively turned with respect to the antenna base end portion12, the fixing bolt working also as a pivot. The outer circumference ofthe cylindrical member 10 d around which the engagement recess 12 a isfitted also works as a pivot of the antenna base end portion 10. In thisstructure, owing to the cutoff port ion provided at apart of an edge ofthe cylindrical member 10 d, a turning movement of the projection of theantenna base end portion 12 is restricted, so that an angle of a turningmovement of the antenna base end portion 12 is restricted. The urethanerubber 18 may be provided on a side surface thereof with a projection 18a (shown in FIG. 6), which can be deformed elastically with ease, insuch a manner that this projection 18 a contacts a bottom surface of theengagement recess 12 a of the antenna base end portion 12. In theassembled condition of FIG. 7, the projection 18 a is deformedelastically to perfection and cannot be recognized.

When, in this structure, the position of the engagement projection 16 aof the elastic member 16 extending from the cutoff portion of theantenna base member 10 is aligned with that of one retaining recess 12 bof the inner circumferential surface of the engagement recess 12 a ofthe antenna base end portion 12 as shown in FIG. 8, the engagementprojection 16 a is engaged elastically with the retaining recess 12 b,so that the antenna base end portion 12 is retained in a predeterminedposture with respect to the antenna base member 10. In FIG. 8, thecondition of the antenna retained substantially horizontally is shown.

When an upward turning force (anti-clockwise force in FIG. 8) is exertedon the antenna in a substantially horizontal predetermined posture, theelastic member 16 is elastically deformed with respect to a force of alevel not lower than a certain level, and the position of the engagementprojection 16 a is shifted so that the engagement projection radiallyretracts to cause the engagement projection 16 a to disengage from theretaining recess 12 b. Owing to a further force exerted in the antennaturning direction, as shown in FIG. 9, the engagement projection 16 a iselastically engaged with the engagement projection 16 a left in theelastically displaced state with the inner circumferential surface ofthe engagement recess 12 a, and the turning of the antenna is thusallowed. During this time, the inner circumferential surface of theengagement recess 12 a works as a slide engagement portion with whichthe engagement projection 16 a is slidingly engaged.

When the antenna is turned to a position in which the antenna attains apredetermined posture of an angle of inclination of, for example, 45° atwhich an optimum reception sensitivity is obtained, the engagementprojection 16 a is engaged with the other retaining recess 12 c in anopposed state which is provided in the inner circumferential surface ofthe engagement recess 12 a. Therefore, the antenna is retained in apredetermined posture of a suitable angle of inclination.

In the above-described first embodiment, the so-called click mechanismfor retaining the antenna in a predetermined posture is formed by theelastic member 16 made of a plate spring. Therefore, the construction ofthe click mechanism is very simple, and the number of the parts thereofis small. Owing to the urethane rubber 18 provided on the inner side ofthe elastic member 16, the elastic deformation of the elastic member 16is somewhat restricted. Accordingly, the impression of a click sound isrendered more certain, and the vibration and the like of the parts ofthe antenna do not cause the antenna to be put in a non-retained state.Since the urethane rubber 18 is elastically engaged with the bottomsurface portion of the engagement recess 12 a of the antenna base endportion 12, a suitable turning resistance can be obtained owing to thefrictional resistance occurring when the antenna is turned. In the firstembodiment, the antenna can be formed with the click mechanism as awhole incorporated in the antenna base end portion 12. In order toobtain a suitable frictional resistance owing to the elasticity of theurethane rubber 18, the engagement portion thereof may have anycross-sectional shape. In order to prevent wear from occurring on theurethane rubber 18 in the engagement portion thereof, grease and thelike may be applied to the engagement surface.

A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to FIGS. 10 to 12. FIG. 10 is a left side view of the secondembodiment of the antenna device according to the present invention.FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the arrow-carrying line D-D inFIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the arrow-carrying lineE-E in FIG. 11.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12, an antenna base member 30 is providedthereon with a pair of standing portions 30 a, 30 b, and an antenna baseend portion 32 inserted between the standing portions is set pivotablevia a fixing bolt 34 as a pivot. The antenna base end portion 32 isprovided in one side surface thereof with an annular recess 32 a, and apart of a circumferential portion of an outer side wall of this annularrecess 32 a is cut off. An inner side wall of the annular recess 32 a isprovided at an axial portion thereof with a bolt hole 32 b through whichthe fixing bolt 34 can be inserted. A substantially annular elasticmember 16 made of a plate spring is provided so that the elastic memberis elastically engaged with the outer side wall of the annular recess 32a. An engagement projection 16 a of this elastic member 16 extends fromthe cutoff portion of the annular recess 32 a in the radially outwarddirection.

Furthermore, compressed urethane rubber 18 is suitably packed in theannular recess 32 a on the inner side of the elastic member 16.

Between the two standing portions 30 a, 30 b of the antenna base member30, a slide engagement portion 30 c, with which the engagementprojection 16 a is slidingly engaged, is provided so as to extend alonga circular outer circumferential surface of the antenna base portion 32.This slide engagement portion 30 c is provided with retaining recesses30 d, 30 e opposed to the engagement projection 16 a extending outwardfrom the cutoff portion with the antenna in a predetermined posture.

In the second embodiment, the engagement projection 16 a is alsoelastically engaged with the opposed retaining recesses 30 d, 30 e inthe same manner as in the first embodiment to retain the antenna in apredetermined posture. The engagement projection 16 a is disengaged fromthe retaining recesses 30 d, 30 e by a force of a level not lower than apredetermined level of a force working in the antenna turning direction,and thereby allows the antenna to be turned. In the first embodiment,the elastic member 16 is provided on the antenna base member 30, while,in the second embodiment, the elastic member 16 is provided on theantenna base end portion 32.

A third embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of thethird embodiment of the antenna device according to the presentinvention. FIG. 13 is taken along a line similar to the line D-D in FIG.10.

Referring to FIG. 13, an antenna base end portion 42 is providedsuitably on an antenna base member 40 by a fixing bolt 44 so that theantenna base end portion can be turned. This antenna base end portion 42is provided therein with an annular recess 42 a coaxial with the fixingbolt 44, and compressed urethane rubber 46 is suitably packed therein.The antenna base end portion 42 is further provided on a substantiallycircular outer circumferential surface thereof with a retainingprojection 42 b extending radially outward. The antenna base member 40is provided with an elastic member 48, which is made of a plate springworking as a slide engagement portion so that the elastic member isslidingly engaged with the circular outer circumferential surface of theantenna base end portion 42, in such a manner that the elastic member 48can be deformed elastically in the radial direction. This elastic member48 is provided in the portions thereof to which the retaining projection42 b is opposed with the antenna in a predetermined posture withengagement recesses 48 a, 48 b so that the elastic member can beelastically deformed in the radial direction.

In the third embodiment of such a construction, the retaining projection42 b is engaged with the engagement recess 48 a with the antenna in apredetermined posture in which the retaining projection 42 b is opposedto the engagement recess 48 a of the elastic member 48, so that thepredetermined posture is retained. When a force the level of which isnot lower than a predetermined level is exerted on the antenna so as toturn the same, the elastic member 48 is elastically deformed to causethe retaining projection 42 b to disengage from the engagement recess 48a, and a turning movement of the antenna is allowed. When the retainingprojection 42 b is in a position in which the retaining projection isopposed to the other engagement recess 48 b, the retaining projection 42b is engaged with the engagement recess 48 b, and the antenna isretained in the other predetermined posture. Even in the structure ofthis third embodiment, a simply shaped elastic member 48 forms a clickmechanism.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to FIG. 14. FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view of thefourth embodiment of the antenna device according to the presentinvention. FIG. 14 is taken along a line similar to the line D-D in FIG.10.

Referring to FIG. 14, an antenna base end portion 52 is providedsuitably on an antenna base member 50 by a fixing bolt 54 so that theantenna base end portion 52 can be turned. This antenna base end portion52 is provided in a substantially circular outer circumferential surfacethereof with retaining recesses 52 a, 52 b. The antenna base member 50is provided thereon with an elastic member 56, which is made of a platespring, in such a manner that the elastic member is slidingly engagedwith an outer circumferential surface of the antenna base end portion52. This elastic member 56 is provided with an engagement projection 56a, which is elastically displaced in the radial direction, in such amanner that the engagement projection extends toward the center of theantenna base end portion.

When, in the fourth embodiment of such a construction, the antenna is ina predetermined posture in which the retaining recesses 52 a, 52 b inthe outer circumferential surface of the antenna base end portion areopposed to the engagement projection 56 a of the elastic member 56, theengagement projection 56 a engages the retaining recesses 52 a, 52 b, sothat the antenna retains the predetermined posture. When a force thelevel of which is not lower than a predetermined level is exerted on theantenna so as to turn the same, the elastic member 56 is elasticallydeformed to disengage from the retaining recesses, and a turningmovement of the antenna is allowed.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will further be describedwith reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. FIG. 15 is a partially cutaway frontview of a part of the fifth embodiment of the antenna device accordingto the present invention. FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along thearrow-carrying line F-F in FIG. 15.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, a standing portion 60 a of an antenna basemember 60 is provided with a threaded hole 60 b for a fixing bolt 62 sothat the threaded hole extends horizontally. The standing portion 60 ais provided at one side thereof with a spring fixing portion 60 ccoaxial with the threaded hole 60 b and having an inner surface. Anantenna base end portion 64 is provided with a bolt hole 64 a throughwhich the fixing bolt 62 can be inserted, and an annular recess 64 bcoaxial therewith. An inner wall of this annular recess 64 b can beinserted into the inside of a spring fixing portion 60 c of the antennabase member 60. A retaining projection 64 c, which extends radiallytoward the axis of the antenna base end portion, is provided on an innercircumferential surface of an outer side wall of the annular recess 64b. To the spring fixing portion 60 c of the antenna base member 60, anelastic member 66 made of a plate spring, which is elastically engagedwith an inner circumferential surface of an outer circumferential wallof the annular recess 64 b of the antenna base end portion 64, is fixedby screws and the like. Moreover, the elastic member 66 is provided withengagement recesses 66 a, 66 b with which the retaining projection 64 ccan be engaged, and these engagement recesses 66 a, 66 b are renderedelastically displaceable in the radial direction. In the elastic member66, compressed urethane rubber 68 is packed.

The antenna base member 64 is combined with the antenna base member 60having the elastic member 66 fixed thereto and urethane rubber 68provided therein, and the antenna base member and antenna base endportion are fixed to each other by the fixing bolt 62 screwed thereto.The purpose of tightening of this fixing bolt 62 is to prevent theantenna base end portion 64 from coming off from the antenna base member60, and the antenna base end portion 64 is provided pivotably with apivotal movement thereof restricted by the fixing bolt 62 and the innersurface of the spring fixing portion 60 c.

In the fifth embodiment of such a construction, the antenna is retainedin a predetermined posture with the retaining projection 64 c of theantenna base end portion 64 engaged with the engagement recesses 66 a,66 b of the elastic member 66. When the elastic member is disengagedfrom the engagement recesses against the elastic force, the turning ofthe antenna is allowed. The fifth embodiment can form a click mechanismwholly in the antenna base end portion 64 in the same manner as thefirst embodiment.

A sixth embodiment of the present invention will now be described withreference to FIG. 17. FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway front view of thesixth embodiment of the antenna device according to the presentinvention.

The difference between the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 17 and thefirst embodiment resides in that, instead of the elastic member 16 madeof the plate spring and urethane rubber 18, an elastic member 70 havinga shape substantially identical with that of a combination of these twoparts and made of a rubber material and the like having an elasticityand a frictional resistance is provided. A projection of the elasticmember 70 extends from a cutoff portion of a cylindrical member 10 d andworks as an engagement projection 70 a. A free end portion of thisengagement projection 70 a is slidingly engaged with an innercircumferential surface of an outer wall of an engagement recess 12 a ofan antenna base end portion 12 when the antenna is turned. Therefore, itis necessary that this free end portion has a frictional resistance. Inthis sixth embodiment, the same effect as in the first embodiment canalso be obtained.

In any of the first to sixth embodiments, two predetermined postures ofthe antenna, i.e. a substantially horizontal posture and a posture of anangle of inclination of, for example, 45° at which a maximum receptionsensitivity are set. The antenna may also be formed so that the antennacan be retained in one or not smaller than three predetermined posturesby providing a suitably selected number of retaining or engagementrecesses. In the antenna device according to the present invention, theantenna can be retained in a predetermined posture by only the elasticforce of the elastic member, so that it is not always necessary toprovide the urethane rubber which gives the antenna a pivotalresistance. The elastic member is not limited to those employed in theabove-described embodiments. The elastic members of any shapes serve thepurpose as long as the elastic members have a structure capable ofengaging the engagement portion and retaining portion with each otherelastically. Moreover, it may be understood easily that any materialsfor the elastic member can meet the purpose as long as the materialshave an elastic force. Furthermore, in addition to the structure inwhich the engagement portion is provided on the elastic member to renderthe elastic member elastically displaceable in the radial directionthereof, a structure in which the retaining portion can also beelastically displaced in the radial direction thereof alone may beprovided.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In the antenna device according to the present invention describedabove, the engagement projection is elastically deformed with respect toa force in the antenna turning direction the level of which is not lowerthan a predetermined level, and disengaged from the retaining recess.The engagement projection is elastically engaged with the innercircumferential surface of the engagement recess with the engagementprojection left elastically displaced, by a further force exerted on theantenna in the turning direction thereof, and the turning of the antennais allowed. When the antenna is turned to a position in which apredetermined posture of an angle of inclination of, for example, 45° atwhich an optimum reception sensitivity is obtained, the engagementprojection is opposed to the second-mentioned retaining recess, which isprovided in the inner circumferential surface of the engagement recess,and engaged therewith, so that the antenna is retained in apredetermined posture of a suitable angle of inclination. In the antennadevice according to the present invention, a so-called click mechanismfor retaining the antenna in a predetermined posture is made of asubstantially annular elastic member, i.e. a plate spring. Therefore,the antenna device has a very simple construction, and has a smallnumber of parts, so that the antenna device is conveniently formed tosmall weight. Moreover, the click mechanism can be wholly incorporatedin the antenna base end portion.

1. An antenna device in which an antenna base end portion is providedpivotably with respect to an antenna base member with an antennaretained in a predetermined posture, characterized in that one of theantenna base member and antenna base end portion is provided with anelastic member having an engagement portion capable of being elasticallydisplaced in the radial direction with respect to an axis of a pivotalmovement thereof so that the elastic member is not relatively turned,the other of the antenna base member and antenna base end portion beingprovided with a slide engagement section with which the elastic memberelastically deformed by a turning movement of the antenna is slidinglyengaged, the slide engagement section being provided with a retainingpart with which the mentioned engagement section is engaged by theelastic force of the elastic member with the antenna in a predeterminedposture.
 2. An antenna device in which an antenna base end portion isprovided pivotably with respect to an antenna base member with anantenna retained in a predetermined posture, characterized in that theantenna base member is provided with an elastic member having anengagement projection which extends radially with respect to an axis ofa pivotal movement of the antenna, and which can be elastically deformedin the radial direction, in such a manner that the elastic member is notturned relatively, the antenna base end portion being provided with aslide engagement section with which the engagement projectionelastically deformed by a turning movement of the antenna is slidinglyengaged, the slide engagement section being allowable to be providedwith a retaining recess with which the engagement projection is engagedby an elastic force thereof with the antenna in a predetermined posture.3. An antenna device in which an antenna base end portion is providedpivotably with respect to an antenna base member with an antennaretained in a predetermined posture, characterized in that the antennabase end portion is provided with an elastic member having an engagementprojection which extends radially with respect to an axis of a pivotalmovement of the antenna, and which can be elastically deformed in theradial direction, in such a manner that the elastic member is not turnedrelatively, the antenna base member being provided with a slideengagement section with which the engagement projection elasticallydeformed by a turning movement of the antenna is slidingly engaged, theslide engagement section being allowable to be provided with a retainingrecess with which the engagement projection is engaged by an elasticforce thereof with the antenna in a predetermined posture.
 4. An antennadevice according to claim 2, wherein the antenna device is formed byproviding the antenna base member with a cylindrical member a part of anouter circumferential surface of which is cut off, providing asubstantially annular elastic member, which has an engagement projectionextending in the radial direction of the cutoff portion, in thecylindrical member, providing the antenna base end portion with anengagement recess engaged with the outer circumferential surface of thecylindrical member and thereby forming an inner circumferential surfacethereof in to the slide engagement section, and providing an innercircumferential surface of the engagement recess with a retaining recesswith which the engagement projection is engaged.
 5. An antenna deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the annular elastic member may be providedtherein with urethane rubber in a compressed state so that the urethanerubber is elastically engaged with a bottom surface of the engagementrecess of the antenna base end portion.